How Early Should You Start Sleep Training?

Are you thinking about sleep training your little one? It can be a tough decision, but don’t worry – we’re here to help guide you through the process. Understanding the timeline and benefits of it is key to making the best decision for your family. It’s important to also keep in mind that every child is unique and will respond differently to the training. As you consider this as an option, you’re probably curious about how early you should start sleep training. Let’s dive in!

What is Sleep Training?

There are a lot of misconceptions about what sleep training actually is. One of the most common misconceptions is that the term is synonymous with the “cry-it-out” method. This couldn’t be further from the truth! In fact, there are many different ways parents can go about it.

Sleep Training = The process of helping a newborn or infant learn to fall asleep and stay asleep on their own. 

While this can be achieved in many different ways, you ultimately just want to help a baby feel safe and comfortable in falling asleep on their own and staying that way for their best growth and development.

How Long Does it Take to Sleep Train?

Though it varies across different families and is different for every baby, there is a flexible timeline to keep in mind for when you are preparing to start sleep training. Many experts, in addition to well-versed parents, estimate that the process takes about 2-3 months on average to complete, although there are some methods that sleep consultants can lead that can produce results in less than a week. Depending on how early you decide to implement it, the results may come sooner than you anticipate.

What are the Steps You Should Take During Sleep Training?

Though most methods revolve around teaching your baby to self-soothe, there are other steps to keep in mind in order to make it more effective for your baby as they progress. Keeping a steady schedule on a day-to-day basis will ultimately help your child settle into sleep a lot easier. Focusing on a consistent sleep, eat, and play cycle throughout the day will help your baby adapt to a routine, which will ultimately train them to be ready for sleep when it’s time to go down.

What are the Benefits of Sleep Training?

There are many overall benefits of sleep training your child when they are babies. One of the most recognized benefits is allowing both you and your child to have a full night’s sleep as early as possible. In addition to a full night of sleep, having a consistent routine between you and your baby where you are in control of the pattern of your day, will greatly benefit both of you. This will ultimately help your baby adapt to the routine of your day, and will help them to consume a healthy amount of sleep.

How can CLEbaby Help Guide You Through Sleep Training?

At CLEBaby, we use the Mommywise in-home method, where we surround you with intentional support and training for 3 days. During this time, we equip you with the tools, resources, and methods to tackle the process with ease. We recognize at CLEbaby that taking a gentle approach to sleep training will ultimately prolong the process. That’s why we encourage a more direct approach, which may include some tears at the beginning but will ultimately provide both you and your baby relief a lot earlier than other methods. 

If you are still unsure about starting your sleep training journey with us, we provide a complimentary call with a Certified Mommywise Sleep Coach that can answer any questions or concerns you may have when considering sleep training. To connect with us, click here.